Holiday and leisure venue stages free entertainment weekend to covering music, dance, comedy and a preview of the 2023 events
Stonham Barns Park – one of Suffolk’s premier leisure, retail and holiday destinations – is to stage a venue wide event called The Big Weekend from Friday to Sunday 3-5 March 2023. The free to enter event will showcase the newly revamped Aspal Theatre, Legends Sports Bar and The Barn and will feature music, dance and comedy alongside previews of the 2023 show calendar covering history, antiques, dogs, fishing, weddings, cars, buses, model railways and truck events. It’s a community event to encourage families and friends to visit the venue to see what is new for 2023.
There will be events at The Aspal Theatre, The Barn and on the Outdoor Stage in the main showground as well as Jive Generation dance demonstrations featuring jive dance from the 30s, 40s and 50s and Zahara Belly Dance.
On Friday evening at The Aspal Theatre, indie singer songwriter Leon O’Leary from Bury St Edmunds – who names James Bay, Sam Fender and Ben Howard as influences – will be performing. An up-and-coming Suffolk artist, he has already been featured on BBC Introducing and at Latitude. He will be supported by the TGS Live Lounge resident band.
Billy Hunt & The Modern Classix will be doing a session on Saturday on the outside stage along with The Swamp Project and 80s band Flashdance. While Legends Sports Bar will play host to acoustic sets by Nina, Marcia and Steve, The Browns, Brooke Telling, Bill Pipe, John Drage, Carys and Triangle. Awesome Leiston vocalist Billy Hunt started his music career by rapping but has now moved into more rock, indie and punk music working in collaboration with others to form The Modern Classix.
Sunday’s line-up features the hugely talented Lauren Jennifer. Affectionately known as The Goth Cowgirl, Lauren is an Americana singer with a rock and roll soul. Murphey’s Lore and The Bo’Weevil Brothers will also be performing. Legends Sports Bar will be hosting Patrick Foster, John Campbell, Millie Berry, Bill Pipe, Inside Out, Ruby Ambrose, Paul’s Group and Painting the Silence. Musical comedian Robin Dicker has been added to the line up to complete the entertainment.
Commented John Chapman from Stonham Barns Park: ‘The Aspal Theatre will be doing Live Lounge style performances – we are mixing up contemporary pop with blues, rock and country. Next year we will be looking to build on this with more bands and artists to make the event an annual date in the Suffolk calendar.’
‘It’s going to be all the best in entertainment and activities that Stonham Barns Park has to offer – including a glimpse of the shows to come featuring exhibits from the events – as the venue shapes up to take a major role in Suffolk’s tourism landscape.’
‘And who doesn’t love a free event. Particularly in the current climate.’
Adds Janice Rowles from Stonham Barns Park, ‘There will be all sorts of activities on over the weekend to keep people entertained. As well as some historic re-enactments and the building of a Viking Ship, there will be interactive activities around the park too. Have-a-Go Axe Throwing and Archery for the adults will be available – in direct contrast to the presence of some popular ‘Legends’ Vaders Raiders (Star Wars Costume Group) characters who will be around to meet and greet the children. It is going to be a very Big Weekend of music and entertainment to kick off the forthcoming show Spring/Summer season of events.’
For more information about The Big Weekend at Stonham Barns Park please contact 01449 711901 or visit www.stonhambarns.co.uk or facebook or Instagram.
